Radial arm saw guard

Abstract

A lower guard assembly for both sides of the blade, which retracts a minimal amount while cutting, providing a maximum of blade enclosure and consequent protection for the operator.

We claim: 
     
       1. A guard assembly for a power saw having a cutting blade suspended above a work support, comprising: an upper guard enclosing substantially half of said cutting blade;   an outer lower guard assembly having a pair of leaves each with one end pivotally fixed on said upper guard and with respective lower ends being arcuately slotted and slidably connected to each other by a connecting pin, said slots having sufficient length to permit pivoting of said leaves to a position above the shaft of said power saw, and a spring biasing said leaves to an extended position, said leaves outer arcuate edges being of a radial dimension greater than said cutting blade when in said extended position.   
     
     
       2. The guard assembly of claim 1, further comprising an inner lower guard assembly having slotted links slidably mounted on said upper guard, said links pivotally supporting an arcuate leaf from the link ends remote from said upper guard, said arcuate leaf normally extending outwardly of said cutting blade when in the extended position. 
     
     
       3. A guard assembly for a radial arm saw, comprising: an upper guard section mounted on the motor housing enclosing the upper portion of the blade of said saw;   an outer lower guard sub-assembly normally guarding the exposed balance of the blade cutting edge not covered by said upper guard section, said outer lower guard assembly being mounted on said upper guard section on a surface remote from said motor housing, and having a pair of arcuate leaves pivotally mounted on said upper guard radially outwardly of said blade;   said arcuate leaves each having a closed longitudinal slot in the end remote from their respective pivoted ends;   a pin in said slot slidingly connecting said leaves together, said slots being of sufficient extent to permit pivotal movement of said leaves to a point above a line connecting said pivoted ends; and,   a spring biasing said leaves to the extended position away from said upper guard.   
     
     
       4. The guard assembly of claim 3, further comprising an inner lower guard sub-assembly, comprising: a pair of pivot pins mounted on the inside of the inner wall of said upper guard, said pins being on a line above the axis of the arbor of said saw, and radially inward of the periphery of said saw blade;   a slotted link mounted on each said pivot pin for rotation and sliding movement;   an arcuate leaf pivotally suspended by its ends from said slotted links; and   stop pins mounted to limit the downward and inward travel of said links;   said slots in said links being of an extent to limit the inward movement of said links towards said arbor; and,   the external periphery of said arcuate leaf having a radius greater than said blade.